Stewardship: The Golden Daughter

Title: Stewardship: The Golden Daughter

Description: The Golden Daughter is the fourth sermon in a series on stewardship. In this message we look at Genesis 4:1-14 and Mark 17-24 in order to learn that the things we value more than God will become our source of pain, struggle, and burden. It will become our curse.

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MANUSCRIPT
Story—King Midas and His Golden Touch
Many years ago there lived a king named Midas. King Midas had one little daughter, whose name was Marigold. King Midas was very, very rich. It was said that he had more gold than any other king in the world. One room of his great castle was almost filled with yellow gold pieces. At last the king grew so fond of his gold that he loved it better than anything else in the entire world. He even loved it better than his own little daughter, dear little rosy-cheeked Marigold. His one great wish seemed to be for more and more gold. One day while he was in his gold room counting his money, a beautiful fairy boy stood before him. The boy's face shone with a wonderful light, and he had wings on his cap and wings on his feet. In his hand he carried a strange looking wand, and the wand also had wings. "Midas, you are the richest man in the world," said the fairy. "There is no king who has so much gold as you." "That may be," said the king. "As you see, I have this room full of gold, but I should like much more; for gold is the best and the most wonderful thing in the world." "Are you sure?" asked the fairy. "I am very sure," answered the king. "If I should grant you one wish," said the fairy, "would you ask for more gold?" "If I could have but one wish," said the king, "I would ask that everything I touch should turn to beautiful yellow gold." "Your wish shall be granted," said the fairy. "At sunrise to-morrow morning your slightest touch will turn everything into gold. But I warn you that your gift will not make you happy." "I will take the risk," said the king. The next day King Midas awoke very early. He was eager to see if the fairy's promise had come true. As soon as the sun arose he tried the gift by touching the bed lightly with his hand. The bed turned to gold. He touched the chair and table. Upon the instant they were turned to solid gold. The king was wild with joy. He ran around the room, touching everything he could see. His magic gift turned all to shining, yellow gold. The king soon felt hungry and went down to eat his breakfast. Now a strange thing happened. When he raised a glass of clear cold water to drink, it became solid gold. Not a drop of water could pass his lips. The bread turned to gold under his fingers. The meat was hard, and yellow, and shiny. Not a thing could he get to eat. All was gold, gold, gold. His little daughter came running in from the garden. Of all living creatures she was the dearest to him. He touched her with his lips. At once the little girl was changed to a golden statue.

A great fear crept into the king's heart, sweeping all the joy out of his life. In his grief he called and called upon the fairy who had given him the gift of the golden touch. "O fairy," he begged, "take away this horrible golden gift! Take all my lands. Take all my gold. Take everything, only give me back my little daughter." In a moment the beautiful fairy was standing before him. "Do you still think that gold is the greatest thing in the world?" asked the fairy. "No! no!" cried the king. "I hate the very sight of the yellow stuff." "Are you sure that you no longer wish the golden touch?" asked the fairy. "I have learned my lesson," said the king. "I no longer think gold the greatest thing in the world." "Very well," said the fairy, "take this pitcher to the spring in the garden and fill it with water. Then sprinkle those things which you have touched and turned to gold." The king took the pitcher and rushed to the spring. Running back he first sprinkled the head of his dear little girl. Instantly she became his own darling Marigold again, and gave him a kiss. The king sprinkled the golden food, and to his great joy it turned back to real bread and real butter. Then he and his little daughter sat down to breakfast. How good the cold water tasted! How eagerly the hungry king ate the bread and butter, the meat, and all the good food! The king hated his golden touch so much that he sprinkled even the chairs and the tables and everything else that the fairy's gift had turned to gold.

Let me ask you a question of this ability to turn things into gold, which given to King Midas. Was it a gift or a curse?


I invite you to turn with me to Genesis 4:1. This is the story of Cain and Abel. Before we begin this story, let me remind you of what has happened in the preceding chapters. God warned Adam and Eve that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they would die. They ate from it, but they did not experience a physical death, only a spiritual death, and so now the world is corrupted.

Genesis 4:1-7
2And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 4So it came a about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. 5And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. 6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Abel brings something from his flock, while Cain brings some vegetation. And the passage says that, “The Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.” When it says that, “The Lord had regard,” it means that He favored Abel’s offering and that it was good. You have to understand, this is not a competition. God was not looking for a winner and a loser. God was not comparing the offerings. Abel brought a good and acceptable offering while Cain didn’t. God told Cain that all you have to do is do well and do what is right and then I’ll accept your offering.

The million-dollar question is why? Why did God accept Abel’s offering but not Cain’s? Some people will jump right out and say that Abel’s offering was better because it was a blood offering. And only blood offerings could atone for one’s sin, but we don’t really gleam that from the text. There’s not mention here about God telling them what kind of offering is acceptable or not. Besides, the word used for offering is, “minchah”, which is used throughout the Torah in a broad sense, covering any type of gift man may bring to the Lord. And we learn later that a grain offering was an acceptable offering to God. Nothing in this story points in the direction that the blood sacrifice made it acceptable.

The only other place we can look for answers is in the description of their offerings. We see that Cain brought, “an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground,” while Abel brought of the “firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.” The difference appears to be in the quality of the offering. Abel was peculiar in the choice of his offering: not the lame, nor the lean, nor the refuse, but the firstlings of the flock—the best he had, and the fat thereof—the best of those best. During this time, fat of the animal was prized as its luxury. It was the best. There’s no such description of Cain’s offering. The implication is that Abel sacrificed the best and most important of what he had, while Cain sacrificed something that didn’t have much value. In other words, Cain and Abel were at outback steak house and Abel gave his huge steak to the Lord, but Abel gave of his leftovers, the stuff he couldn’t eat.

The problem is Cain’s heart. His gift to God is a direct reflection of his heart. Whether he didn’t love God or he didn’t want to give up the best of his vegetation, Cain’s sacrifice didn’t mean much. It doesn’t cost you something when you want to bless someone else. Nobody wants to give a cheap gift, especially to someone special and significant to him or her. Before you get married the man goes and buys the most expensive ring he can afford because this ring is symbolic of his love. He doesn’t go to Walmart and buy something for $15. If he did and she found out, he probably wouldn’t be getting married. The money you give up to buy this ring is an expression of how much you love the person you’re going to marry. I’m willing to spend all this money for this ring and go in debt paying for the wedding, but it’s not a burden, because I love you. And so Cain comes to God and hands him a $15 dollar ring from Walmart and says with his mouth, “I Love You.” It just doesn’t fit. There’s something wrong with Cain’s heart.

The passage says that when God didn’t have regard for Cain’s sacrifice, Cain’s countenance fell. His face was downcast. And Cain was angry with God. Cain had just insulted God and now Cain is angry with God. And so God simply told Him, do what is right and you wont be sad. God tells him to repent and do what’s right. Turn from how you’ve just acted, and change your heart.

Genesis 4:8
8And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel is brother and killed him.

Cain didn’t change. Cain didn’t look at his heart, and he didn’t look into what He did wrong. He didn’t go back and deal with his issue. We know that Cain didn’t give God the best of his grain. And we read in scripture that whenever you hold onto something and are unwilling to give it to God, surrender it to God, or give it to God then that thing becomes an idol to you, because it takes the place of God. If you can’t give it to God than that thing has more value to you than God does. Since Cain didn’t give the best of his produce, his vegetation has become his idol. He has said that the vegetation has more value than God. So Cain doesn’t take a deep look at his heart and see that he was holding on to this vegetation and giving it more value then God and he doesn’t go and gather up the best of his vegetation and offer another sacrifice. So what does he do? So Cain tells his brother what happened. Then he takes his brother out to the field and kills Him.

There’s something you’ve got to understand about sin. Sin is uncontrollable. You can’t contain it and keep in only one area of your life, but sin will affect your whole being. It will pollute even the best aspect of your character. And sin has this funny way of entering in one area of your life, digging down and hiding out and then popping up in a totally different place. And we see this truth within this story in so many different ways.

Let me explain what I mean. The murder of Abel has a direct connection to something that happened in chapter three. When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, God said that they would experience death. And here it is. This murder is a direct result of disobedience from Adam and Eve. Now, Cain can’t shift the blame to his parents. He has to take responsibility for what he did, but if his parents had never taken that fruit, this wouldn’t have happened. Through Adam and Eve sin entered the world and dug a little hole and popped up right here in this field that is now soaked with the blood of Abel. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they had no idea how their action would affect the world. They had no idea that one of their sons would become a murderer. They had no idea how the whole world and all of humanity would become broken. Sin is unpredictable.

In James 1:15, James writes that “when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” Sin is something that grows. And if you have sin in your life, it will grow and expand and take over and affect areas that you never imagined.

In Romans 7, Paul talks about the power of sin.

Romans 7:15-17
15For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the law, confessing that it is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me.

Paul is talking about the nature of sin that is in all of mankind. Paul says that this sin affects even the parts of our life that we want to do good in. We can’t section our lives so that we can live with this sin over here in our live and not have it affect anything else. Sin grows and expands and even influences and prevents the areas in your life that appear to be good and godly.

Just so you know, if you read chapter 8 than you’ll see how all of this can be overcome. You don’t have to live like this.

We see the sneakiness and destruction of sin very clearly in this story. Cain’s sin is between him and God. He is not valuing God as much as he should. When God doesn’t accept Cain’s sacrifice, Cain becomes angry with God. God asked Cain, “Why are you angry (with me)?” And two verses later Cain kills Abel. Cain’s sin affects his relationship with his brother. Cain’s idolatry leads and grows to the point where Cain kills his own brother.

All this happened because Cain never dealt with his sin. He never went back and made things right with God, so he allowed sin to enter into his life and because He never dealt with that sin, that sin grew and festered and entered into his relationship with his brother and killed him.

Let’s read on and see the consequences of Cain’s act

Genesis 4:9-13
9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10And He said, ”What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you; you shall be a vagrant and wanderer on the earth.” 13And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear.

The result of killing his brother is that the land will no longer produce for him. Since the blood of Abel is now soaked into the ground, the blood testifies to the earth against Cain, so the earth will never grow anything for Cain again.

So this is a direct result of Cain killing his brother, but it is also an indirect result from now giving God the best of his grain. None of this would have happened if Cain would have listened to God and did what was right. This is kind of ironic isn’t it? The thing Cain loves the most, is the thing he can never do again. Cain was a worker of the field. He was good at it and he probably enjoyed. So what he found pleasure in now brings him misery. What he valued more than God, has now become his curse. It is now his source of misery, pain, and struggle.

The lesson we learn here from Cain is a warning for all of us. What we value more than God, what we are un-willing to surrender and give to Him, will become our curse, our source of great pain, misery, and struggle.

Application
We see this all the time in the scriptures. The religious leaders who valued religion more than God. Samson who valued a woman more than God, which brought him to the place where his eyes were poked out and placed in a prison. David, at one point of time, valued another women more than God, so he committed adultery and then killed her husband. The consequence was that his son died and his kingdom was split in a power struggle. We see it in the Pharisees who value religion more than God. In all these examples, people placed value above God and obedience to Him and so those areas became a curse.

But the curse isn’t just something that they experience. Cain isn’t the only one who is affected by the consequences of his actions, but so are the rest of his family members. What we value more than God becomes our curse and the source of pain and struggle for those around us. Abel was killed. Adam and Eve no longer lived near their son. For David, the people around him struggled too. The people had to deal with an unstable kingdom and some other things.

We see that this is true in our own lives. When we value something over God, when we love something more than God, when we are unwilling to give something up, when we are unwilling to change our lifestyle and adhere to scripture, we are placing something above God.

There are so many different ways that and things that an idol can look and be. For example, I know of people, as you probably do too, who are so concerned with other people’s opinion of themselves, that their image becomes their idol. They want everybody to like them and think good things about them, so they do all they can to present a good image. This becomes their sin when they care more about how others view them than how God does. Now, it’s easy to see how this becomes their curse. They have to please so many people that they become stretched out and their time disappears. They lose their identity, because they can never be who they are. They are constantly worrying about what others are saying about them. It’s this constant worry and tiredness. You’ve seen this.

Or what about the people who pursue and strive after power? They value power and control over God and they fail to live in humility and obedience. So as they gain power and control they loose friends, the respect of people, and soon people just leave. I have seen this in businessmen where workers quit and friends disappear. I have seen this in parents who just control their kids to the point where they rebel. Their desire for power and control has made their life miserable.

But when God is the center and what we value most, He promises to take care of all our needs. Also, when you value something above God, it will also bring you grief by betraying you. Many things make promises to us that they can’t fulfill. So when I say something becomes our curse, I mean that it keeps us from God, it will cause us the most pain, take us through the hardest struggles, and ultimately crush and destroy us.


SPIRITUAL CONSEQUENCE
Turn with me to Mark 10. Let’s look at another example of a Cain. In this passage, Jesus has just finished some teachings and is about to head off on another journey when this man runs up to Jesus.

Mark 10:17-19
And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

We don’t have time to get too deep into this passage, but notice how Jesus answers this man’s question of “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answer comes from Exodus 20, where we find the Ten Commandments, except that Jesus doesn’t list ten of them. He only lists 5 of them. The first four commandments have to do with man’s relationship with God: You shall have no other gods before you, You shall not make an idol for yourself, You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain, and Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Jesus doesn’t even mention these. He’ll deal with these in another way. The rest of the commandments have to do with man’s relationship with each other: Honor your father and mother, No not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, and do not covet.

When Jesus specifically mentioned the commandments, he left out one and in it’s place he inserted a variation of another. He listed do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud, which is a variation of do not steal. And finally, honor your father and mother. So he listed five of the last six commandments. He did this on purpose.

Let’s look to see how this man responds.

Mark 10:20-22
20And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

There’s a word play that’s going on here. The word “Hustereo” (is lacking) makes a word play with “Me Apostereo” (You shouldn’t defraud). The wordplay points up that the man’s failure to go sell however many things he has and give to the poor, as Jesus now tells him to do, will amount to a covetousness that defrauds the poor by stealing from them what belongs to them. To defraud means to deprive somebody of money or property by dishonest means. So by not giving to the poor, He is coveting and taking from them what should be theirs. The problem here is his wealth. And by coveting and holding on so tightly to his money, he is breaking the commandments that have to do with his relationship with God

Look at his response.

Mark 10:22
22But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property.

Does this sound familiar? His face fell. His countenance fell. He knew you couldn’t let go of his wealth in order to obtain eternal life.

I don’t think this man ever expected Jesus to respond like he did. In those days Rabbis emphatically taught their disciples not to sell all their possessions in order that they don’t become a burden to anybody. And this man comes to Jesus, excited by his dedication, and he says, “I’ve done that. Yeah, since I was a youth.” He thought he had it. And then Jesus tells him, “No, sell all you have and give it to the poor and follow me.” And instantly his face and countenance fell.

His whole life he had managed to live a life of pursuing God while maintaining and holding tightly onto his wealth. And what Jesus did was make him choose. He may not have realized that he had lived this way, but Jesus brings it right in front of him and makes him decide which will be your God.

From Cain we learned that what we value more than God will become our curse. But in this story the implications of what that means is all the more striking. For this man, the curse was something a lot more difficult than just becoming a wanderer who couldn’t work the ground. But for this man, the curse had eternal consequences. The thing he valued the most, his wealth and money, has kept him from eternal life. It has kept him from being a true follower of Jesus.

Allow me to clarify something. This isn’t something that is required for every follower of Jesus to sell all he has and give to the poor. But it might be for some. Jesus tells this man to do that, because this is where his idol was. This is the thing that he valued more than God. And Jesus makes us choose. Jesus says, if you are going to value this above God and if you are not willing to surrender this to God, then you are not a follower. Prove to me that you’re a follower.

Look what he says to his disciples

Mark 10:23-24
And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 24And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children how hard is it to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And they were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27Looking upon them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.

This is true of any idol, of anything you place above God, or attribute more value to God, or are unwilling to surrender to God. This is true of any of that. It will become your curse. And if you escape the curse of these actions during your life, you will not evade them after your life has ended. So whatever it is. Whether it’s money, possessions, your image, your life, your car, your family, your house, or your vacation, for whatever it is, if you value it above God and tell God “you can have anything but this” then that will become your curse.

Stewardship of Money
The reason I’ve brought up these two passages of scripture is because we are talking about what it means to be stewards of money and wealth. These two scriptures teach us of the dangers of idols, but Jesus appears to draw out how much harder it is to gain eternal life if you are wealthy.

He says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” This is a humorous statement by Jesus that makes his point very clearly. He says that it’s impossible. For some reason wealth and great amounts of money awaken these desires that are contrary to scripture. Perhaps it just becomes easier to covet over things and to trust what your money can buy more than what God can do. We don’t know exactly why it is, but what we do have is this stern warning from Christ. What we do have is this warning from scripture that if we hold even one area from God, we are allowing sin enter our lives and we are devaluing God.

Most people, I don’t know why this is, but most people will profess how they’ll serve God and give him all their time and energy. Most people will get all excited and talk about living counter culturally and live a life that goes against the flow of culture, but when money is brought up, “oh no no no! Don’t go there”

I don’t know if you realize this, but Jesus talked more about money and wealth than any other thing. Why? Because He knew that this is where many people have their heart. And he knew how hard it was for people to let go of their wealth, even though they knew that by choosing their wealth, they were rejecting God.

But don’t think that this teaching only applies to people with lots of money. This teaching applies to the people who consider they living in poverty as well. It’s just as easy for poor to covet and idolize money, which they don’t have, as the rich. You can live your life searching for just a little more money. Just a little extra to live off of. Or you can get into those health and wealth messages and pray to God that he would bless you and your coveting heart. “God, fulfill my coveting and greedy hearts desire.”

Jesus doesn’t leave us on a sad note. Although, just as it is impossible for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle as for a rich man to enter eternal life, it is not impossible for God. Jesus says, what is impossible with man is not impossible with God. There is a way to live with wealth and yet not be serving it over Jesus.

Money isn’t something fun to talk about. But I’m bringing it up so that you will be aware of the difficulty and the hardship it brings. If money is an area that you struggle with in giving up to God, be cautious, because it will affect you. It will become your curse. And this sin that you let into your life will expand and reach different areas in your life that you’ll never expect.

I’m not asking you to give up your money. I’m not asking you to sell all you have and give it away. But I am asking that you view yourself as stewards of this money, which was given to you by God. I’m asking that you ask the question: “How can I uses the money I have to further God’s kingdom.” I’m asking you to be generous with your money. You don’t have to give it to this Church, support ministries that touch your heart. Be there for people when they’re out on their luck. Use your money for something good and to further a good cause. I’m asking that you not be selfish and look to see what you can accumulate, but look to see how you can be generous.

There’s nothing wrong with living nicely. There’s nothing wrong with having a nice house or houses, nice cars, nice possessions. There’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes there’s this expectation for people who have more than you do to live like you and that’s not what we’re talking about here. All I’m asking is that you surrender to Jesus and say to him, “What do you want me to do with my wealth?” “How can I use what I’ve got to bless you Jesus?” That’s all there is too it.

My goal today is that you find yourself in this conversation with Jesus and say, “Jesus, I surrender my wealth to you and I will use it however you please.”

You don’t have to be scared of what he’ll say.